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TARDIS Guide

Review of The Christmas Presence by deltaandthebannermen

3 December 2024

This review contains spoilers!

A short story from The Ghosts of Christmas anthology from BF featuring the 2nd Doctor and Jamie but mainly written from the point of view of Chas Baxter, a resident of an old people's home.

Ever since he was born, Father Christmas (who is clearly the 2nd Doctor) has delivered a present to Chas - briar pipes, mobile phones, watches.

At his old people's home, Chas suspects a new resident, Malcolm of being a thief and an alien. In a surprising turn of events Chas is correct and the Doctor and Jamie arrive to take him to the proper authorities.

A bittersweet tale with a lovely circular story which, even in their brief appearances, manages to capture the 2nd Doctor and Jamie well. Chas and Malcolm are great guest characters and the alien's race - Kleptorodon - is a fun play on words as well as echoing the glorious Kleptons (I'd love to think they're related in some way like the Raxicoricofallapatorians and those from the planet Clom).